Cloudy Forecast for Budget Plan

"The Congressional Budget Office placed a new hurdle in front of President Obama’s agenda on Friday, calculating that the White House’s tax and spending plans would create deficits totaling $2.3 trillion more than the president’s budget projected for the next decade."- Jackie Calmes, New York Times.

There are many against the presidents plan, one of these individuals is Republican Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire. He believes this forecast proves the choices the Obama administration has made for the economy are poor ones and will negatively impact future generations.

Calmes also reported that long term predictions have a tendency to be unreliable, but they set a base for debates between the two parties. It basically gives them a reason to argue with each other.

Stacie Ayala

Journalism 311 Student

Obama Reaches out to Iran

President Obama starred on the Late Night with Jay Leno show last night. According to the Wall Street Journal Jay and Mr. Obama discussed everything from bowling to the AIG situation.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that The White House released a video tape which shows President Obama's recent attempts to reach out to Iran. "The president appealed directly to the Iranian government and its people to forge a new relationship with the U.S. The video, which was also posted online, is a sign of his administration's intensifying efforts to use diplomacy to end Tehran's nuclear East-based militant groups."- Jay Solomon, The Wall Street Journal.

The president also timed this message for the Persian holiday Nowruz.

Stacie Ayala

Journalism 311 Student

The AIG Upset Continues

Photo Credit: European Pressphoto Agency

Today the Wall Street Journal reported immense upset and confusion over the bonuses which American International Group deemed acceptable to distribute to its employees, who were the essential cause to AIG’s failure.

President Barack Obama called upon every resource, in attempt to put a stop to the distribution of AIG’s objectionable bonuses. Over the weekend a outburst of rage unfolded as the bonuses became known to the public. In the end the government does not have control over the payments, but they will be more watchful in the future.


According to the OC Register President Obama has come to the OC. President Obama will be landing in Long Beach around 3 p.m. tomorrow and will be speaking at the Orange County Fairgrounds on Wednesday at 4 p.m. At 10 a.m. this morning White House officials began distributing tickets to a roaring and excited crowd.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/first-president-beach-2337393-event-mallett

Stacie Ayala

Journalism 311 Student

A.I.G. Distributes Bonuses

Photo Credit: Doug Mills/ New York Times

The popular topic of today is the bonuses which were distributed within the American International Group. According to the New York Times today, over the past 6 months AIG received $170 billion from the government in order to stay afloat. Last Friday, it was confirmed that AIG had distributed $165 million as bonuses for company employees.

Edmund L. Andrews and Jackie Calmes reported this morning that, "Mr. Obama ordered the Treasury Department to, 'pursue every single legal avenue to block these bonuses' and the American taxpayers whole."

This entire situation becomes even more unsettling because none of the economic advisers or Chief Executive of AIG, Edward M. Liddy, will take responsibility for the final decision on the bonuses.

Andrews and Calmes reported, "Mr. Geithner, according to Treasury officials, insisted that the bonus plan was 'unacceptable' and called Mr. Liddy on Wednesday to demand changes. AIG executives said they would have never proceeded with the bonus payments before getting approval from the Treasury and the Federal Reserve."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/business/17bailout.html?_r=1&ref=politics

Stacie Ayala

Journalism 311 Student

Obama 3/12

The New York Times today hit a sensitive and serious subject for many Americans. The issue, should same-sex partners federal employees be provided with health insurance benefits? According to the New York Times, many gay right supporters, gave their vote to president Obama because of his promise to fend for gay rights. Now these gay couples are looking to Obama for the support he promised.
The president also signed a $410 billion spending package the he said, "marks the old way of doing business." He revealed new rules and criticized Bush for taking advantage of his signing privilege.
The Wall Street Journal reported today, "Obama and Geithner got failing grades for their efforts to revive the economy from economists in a Wall Street journal survey."

Stacie Ayala
Journalism 311 Student

Presidential Passtime 3/10

According to The Wall Street Journal President Obama instructed an overview of Bush's signing statements. The administration is being attentive by checking with Attorney General Eric Holder. On Monday Pres. Obama announced a reverse in Mr. Bush's ban on federally funded embryonic stem cell research. This is one of the many items President Obama has overturned since he took office in January.
According to Pres. Obama, "As a person of faith I believe we are called to care or each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research and the humanity and conscious to do so responsibly." This is an attachment which will take you to the announcement Pres. Obama made with concerns to stem cell research. http://www.latimes.com/video/?slug=la-na-obama-stem-cells10-2009mar10-vid
I have personally argued for stem cell research in the past, and personally know how important it is to act responsibly when working with stem cells. Cloning is the most common fear amongst the population and portrays a negative out look on the research. I believe embryonic stem cell research will open doors to cure many diseases one of the mot important being cancer.

Stacie Ayala
Journalism 311 student